Bengal Border Panic: SIR Verification Triggers Powerful Migration Back to Bangladesh
Hakimpur, Bengal Border — Under a makeshift tarpaulin canopy beside a quiet road leading to the Bangladesh border, hundreds of men, women, and children sit packed with their belongings — bags, boxes, blankets — waiting for their turn to cross. Their destination: home.
In recent days, the Hakimpur border outpost in North 24 Parganas has become a gathering point for Bangladeshi nationals living in India, spurred into action by a growing wave of fear. The trigger: the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls underway in West Bengal, which many undocumented immigrants perceive as a precursor to stricter scrutiny — or even deportation.
“We are scared. That is why we packed our bags and came here,” says Abdul Momin, who came to India from Satkhira (just across the border) five years ago with his wife and two children. According to him, rumors — amplified through word of mouth — have spread widely: “They said we will be caught… we didn’t want to take the risk.” The Indian Express+2The Indian Express+2
Reverse Exodus
For the Border Security Force (BSF), the surge represents what officials describe as a “reverse exodus” of illegal Bangladeshi residents leaving India. Since the SIR began in the first week of November, the number of people attempting to cross over into Bangladesh from this unfenced, riverine stretch has jumped sharply. The Indian Express+2NDTV India+2
BSF sources say that on many days now, 150–200 people are trying to leave — a dramatic increase from earlier, when the numbers were in the “double digits.” The Indian Express
Lives Lived in Limbo
Among those lined up at Hakimpur are long-term residents of Kolkata, Howrah, and nearby districts. Some have lived in India for a decade or more — working as domestic helpers, laborers, or informal workers — yet they do not have valid Indian documents. The Indian Express
Swapna Bibi, another woman waiting there, came with her husband, daughter, son-in-law, and grandchild. Her husband has some Indian identity proof, but she doesn’t: “Everyone in New Town told me that I would be caught in the SIR. So, I am returning,” she says. The Indian Express
Another man, a municipal garbage collector, echoed the same sentiment: despite having a voter card and Aadhaar, he said the risk was too high. The Indian Express
Bengal Border Response and Process
At Bengal Border, BSF personnel have intensified checks — scanning vehicles, e-rickshaws, motorbikes — as the flow of people increases. The Indian Express According to BSF, biometric checks are being done for identity verification. The Indian Express
In some cases, people flagged for “suspicion of crime or links to terror” are handed over to state police for further investigation. The Indian Express But officials say that a majority do not have any valid Indian papers. The Indian Express
Humanitarian Gesture — and Political Undertones
Local residents and businessmen around the border post have stepped in to help those waiting. Jahangir Sohoji, a businessman, says they are giving food, water, and shelter to the families, many of whom include women and children. The Indian Express
Meanwhile, political undertones color the exodus: though the National Register of Citizens (NRC) is not being implemented in West Bengal, critics argue that SIR is being used as a “backdoor implementation” of similar exclusionary processes. The Indian Express
Tensions Rise
The BSF, for its part, is under pressure. The rise in attempted crossings comes not just from a fear of SIR, but also amid broader concerns about border security. India Today+1 In recent times, the force has also thwarted smuggling attempts, raising the stakes in these border regions. India Today
And on the legal front, the BSF has detained dozens of people in recent days: according to reports, at least 55 alleged Bangladeshi nationals were picked up near Swarupnagar, suspected of trying to cross back into Bangladesh amid SIR-related fears. The Times of India
What’s Next
As the SIR exercise continues across West Bengal, the flow of people toward the border shows no signs of abating. For many, returning to Bangladesh is not just about fear — it’s a forced decision driven by uncertainty, vulnerability, and a lack of security in their adopted homes.
Whether this “reverse migration” will slow down depends on multiple factors: how long the BSF lets people cross, how efficiently Bangladesh Border Guards (BGB) receive them, and whether those returning will be able to resettle in their homeland after years in India.
For now, the scene at Hakimpur — families huddled under tarpaulins, waiting to cross — is a poignant manifestation of fear, hope, and a deeply uncertain future.
Sources:
- Indian Express reporting on the Hakimpur surge The Indian Express+1
- NDTV coverage of SIR-triggered border panic NDTV India
- Times of India report on detentions amid SIR fears The Times of India
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